Short characterization ITALY

 

PLAYERS

STARTING SIX - SUBSTITUTES

RANKING

2000 - 2008

 

 

OG 2000

3

1

MASTRANGELO, Luigi

2

L MARRA, Davide (L)

WCH 2002

5

3

PARODI, Simone

5

VERMIGLIO, Valerio

WC 2003

2

7

LASKO, Michal

11

SAVANI, Cristian

OG 2004

2

13

TRAVICA, Dragan

14

FEI, Allesandro

WCH 2006

5

15

BIRARELLI, Emanuele

17

SALA, Andrea

WC 2007

-

18

CERNIC, Matej

19

ZAYTSEV, Ivan

OG 2008

4

 

 

 

General remarks about the team and about the playing-style

·         Team of experienced players.

·         Good performance in Complex I and II.

·         Athletic and technical-tactical good developed players.

·         The players have power in jumping and spiking, especially Fei.

·         Good combination of universal playing abilities and individual strength.

·         Vermiglio was best setter in ranking list of best setters. 

·         Good application of modern scouting information.

·         Team performance in the final matches was not optimal.

 

Serve

·         Power-service, sometimes precision and tactical efficiency adapted to opponent.

·         Major goal seems: try to score direct point or directly disturb opponents C I play.

·         Good tactical adaptation to subsequent block/defence situation.

 

Serve reception

·         Reception is often secure, but sometimes instable.

·         Three players in reception formation.

·         Stable and secure reception, only sometimes instable. Take out !!

·         Before the ball passes the net receivers are in good position.

·         In case of jump spin serve by opponent: starting position of the players is deeper; the arms of the service-passer move to the floor; when the ball is played. Frequently 3-point-reception and punch technique (side- and backwards) are used.

·         Much use of overhead reception on (jump) float serve.

Set/Attack - Complex I and Complex II

·         Mostly jumping setting techniques: with takeoff and landing with both feet, sometimes running and take off by one foot. Always taking the ball as high as possible.

·         Variable distribution of the sets, mainly with short movement impulse (active wrist and finger actions). Vermiglio was no.1 in ranking of best setters.

·         Easy and quick steps from starting position to target position. During the steps moving with front or with back in the direction of the net, depending of the situation; not always arriving at target position before the service pass is received. Pivot by right (from pos. 4 and 5) or left foot.

·         Adjustment by little steps from target position to playing position.

·         A lot of backcourt attacks from both outside hitters and opposite. Outside hitters also attack from backcourt pos 1.

·         Backcourt attack is hit second tempo, variation depends of the net position of setter and first tempo player where it is played.

·         Quick attacking play in Complex I: quick sets to middle player. All hitters are in last step of approach when setter contacts the ball.

·         Simply and effective structured attacks in Complex 1: effective set-distribution, with 1st tempo in the middle of the net, and quick set to player in position 2 and 4 and a standard used incorporated back row attack (“pipe”).

·         If necessary setter is using the new rules of permitted net contacts.

·         Strategy is to play quick attack and jump sets. The setter is in the right time on the right place and in the right position.

·         Jump sets with take-off and landing with both feet or sometimes running with one foot take off or underhand setting.

·         In Complex II, based on good blocking and defense performance, transitions with effective variation of quick and sometimes high attacks. Incorporating back row attack combinations.

·         Freeball-attack: variable pass distribution with a trend towards „quick outside attack from position 4“;sometimes pipe-combination and quick back sets.

 

Block and Defense

·         Court positioning and organization of blocking depends of the starting position of the setter and front row hitters of the opponent.

·         Different step variations and blocking positions adapted to the playing situation.

·         Good level of block performance: kill blocks and rebounds. Mastrangelo was no.2 in ranking of best blockers.

·         Tactical adaptation of blocking based on statistics and tactical analysis of opponent.

·         Good level of individual performance in defense (digging and emergency skills).

·         Team performance in defense depends on the flow of the game.